FROM LOCAL TRADITION TO GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT: PESANTREN NETWORKS AND COSMOPOLITAN ISLAM IN INDONESIA
Keywords:
Pesantren; Cosmoplitan Islam, Islamic EducationAbstract
This study examines the transformation of pesantren in Indonesia from locally rooted Islamic educational institutions into centers of cosmopolitan Islam connected to global engagement. The research employs a qualitative descriptive-analytic approach focusing on three prominent pesantren: Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor, Pesantren Tebuireng Jombang, and Sumatera Thawalib Padang Panjang. Data were collected through literature reviews, institutional documents, and relevant scholarly studies on pesantren networks and Islamic education in Indonesia. The findings show that pesantren play an important role in linking local Islamic traditions with broader global Islamic discourses. Gontor stands out through its modern education system and international orientation, Tebuireng demonstrates Islamic moderation rooted in the traditions of Nahdlatul Ulama and Indonesian nationalism, while Sumatera Thawalib represents an Islamic reform movement that promotes intellectual openness and transnational thought. This study argues that pesantren are not isolated traditional institutions, but dynamic actors capable of integrating local identity with global engagement. Through educational reform and intellectual networking, pesantren contribute significantly to strengthening moderate and inclusive Islam amid global challenges and religious pluralism.
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